Ah, the tangled web they weave, when they consistently - practice
to deceive... That's all they've got folks!

The reality according to the Australian Financial Review
is that Wayne Swan and the PM, did offer the Treasury
to the Coalition to do their costings - but Mr Abbott
turned them down.

No guesses as to why.

I don't understand how an Opposition leader given the
opportunity to respond to the government budget proposal
chooses instead to attack the government on non-budget
issues.

It appears the man has no understanding of the meaning
of a budget-proposal or he is totally incapable of offering
a realistic alternative for the electorate to accept.

They say he's a Rhodes Scholar. Now that's a contradiction.
How did he get it? From his high school principal - a priest?
Ah, wait ...

I have worked with incompetents and bullies and Mr Abbott
is demonstrating all the signs.

It's time that Turnbull or Costello take over if they
don't want the Liberal Party boat to sink.

After all Mr Abbott's popularity is only due to the
"anyone but Julia" thinking amongst some voters and is
very slim at best and not very deep. It could evaporate
quickly when held to account and with prime-time
pre-election exposure.

Shock horror!

Either this is Faux outrage or you have never listened to a budget reply before. Every reply by the opposition has attacked the government on non budget issues to some extent.

Rhodes scholarships are post graduate scholarships decided by Oxford University, based on scholarly works and other factors. Not favours for mates, as are Labor MPs.

As for "After all Mr Abbott's popularity is only due to the "anyone but Julia" thinking amongst some voters and is very slim at best and not very deep. It could evaporate quickly"

Dream on. The trust factor is not going to evaporate any time soon. The "what I said before the elections doesn't count now" tendency of labor is not going to be forgotten soon.

Hi Lexi,

You really do seem to have a big issue with Tony Abbott and express these views frequently on this forum. I’m happy for you to do that, but would ask you to take a step back and consider where we currently sit in the political cycle and what can be reasonably expected from various pollies.

As I have said before, Tony Abbott leads the opposition. Their job, by definition, is to oppose. That is what he and they are doing. Opposing the views of the government is a mechanism for rigorous testing of the feasibility and veracity of proposed bills and legislation. Through debate in the houses of parliament, bills are passed or altered and/or concessions given as each member either red, blue, green or black represents their constituents.

It makes absolutely no sense for the opposition (be it Labor or Liberal) to publicise alternative policy details half-way through the government’s term. What purpose would this serve?

Let him be the opposition leader now – you may not like the man but appreciate that he is playing a role in the governance of this country (however distasteful you find him personally). When the election is called, the Liberal & National coalition will need to explain to the voting public why they should be running the country by way of policies. Until then, we really cannot make an informed choice and honestly, we are not really required to. The only choice that matters is at the polling booth.

Lexi my sweet, the one thing that you Labor supporters have definitely proven over the years is that you are absolutely useless [or actually bloody hopeless] at, is choosing leaders.

It is very kind of you to keep advising the Libs on their choice of leaders. It tells them who they must definitely avoid, at all cost.

Do keep recommending Turnbull, we know he is the worst they could possibly choose, & the fact that you & Belly both like him, confirms that judgement.

Abbott won by one vote. The coalition have no idea how to put policies together. To much emphasis put on Rhodes Scholar, hard to believe, or he bought it.
If the Abbott supporters still push Abbott there is not much hope for the Australian future.
No one can vote for a party with no economic direction, or policies. Australian's are not that ?
The budget was put together very well, Hard to argue with any of it.
The miners have got to pay, and polluters have got to change their polluting ways. Without incentive to change, nothing will ever happen.